00:00Greek maritime risk management firm Marisks warns shipping companies have received fraudulent
00:05messages offering safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency.
00:10The messages targeted vessels stranded west of the waterway.
00:14It warns ship owners unknown actors posing as Iranian authorities are demanding transit
00:18fees in cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Tether, in exchange for clearance.
00:23Marisks believes at least one of the vessels which tried to exit the Strait on Saturday
00:28and was hit by gunfire was a victim of the fraud. Reuters was not able to verify the information
00:33or track companies that had received the messages. Meantime, a senior Iranian official tells Reuters,
00:39Iran is considering attending peace talks with the US on Monday, April 20.
00:43This comes after Tehran's rejection of peace efforts due to the US blockade of Iran's ports.
00:48The senior Iranian official says Tehran is positively reviewing its participation in
00:53the process but no decision has been made. The official adds, Mediator Pakistan is
00:57lobbying for Washington to end its blockade and ensure Iran's participation.
01:02The US was hoping to start negotiations in Pakistan shortly before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
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